You Can’t Buy a Home If You’re Self-Employed

The truth is, self-employed income is just calculated differently than traditional W-2 income. I actually became an expert in helping self-employed buyers back when I was managing a team at a local bank, and I’ve made it one of my specialties ever since.

When you’re self-employed, lenders look closely at your tax returns to determine your income. Here’s where it gets tricky: many business owners take full advantage of tax write-offs (which is smart for taxes!) — but those same deductions can make it look like you earn less than you actually do on paper.

That’s where experience matters. I understand which write-offs can be added back in and how to present your income accurately to help you get approved.

And even if traditional income documentation doesn’t tell the full story, I have alternative loan options, like bank statement programs, that allow us to evaluate your income differently — based on real cash flow instead of tax returns.

So if you’re self-employed and think homeownership is out of reach, don’t count yourself out. Let’s take a look at your unique situation and find the best path to get you approved.

Being your own boss shouldn’t keep you from owning your own home.

— Aaron Miller, Your Pittsburgh Mortgage Guy